Non-sliding valve

Abstract

A solenoid valve moves an armature back and forth translationally between valve open and valve closed positions without the armature having any sliding engagement with any fixed valve part. This is accomplished by supporting the armature with a spring having one periphery engaging a fixed valve surface and another periphery engaging the armature so that armature movement causes flexure of the spring, but no sliding contact. This helps prevent generation of dirt within the valve and ensures accurate armature movement to make the valve durable and reliable. Springs in both washer and cylindrical helical shapes can accomplish this, and the armatures supported by such springs can accommodate valve closing seals of different materials and shapes.

1. In a solenoid-controlled valve having a seat around a valved opening, a seal arranged to engage the seat to close the valved opening, an armature holding the seal for movement out of and into engagement with the seat, a spring supporting the armature for movement and biasing the armature toward a closed valve position, and a solenoid arranged to move the armature against the spring bias to open the valve, the improvement comprising:
 the spring being flat and generally washer-shaped with a generally circular outer and inner perimeters that are each larger than the seat and concentric with the seat; 
 the outer perimeter being secured to a body of the valve; 
 the inner perimeter supporting the armature for axial movement during which the armature has no sliding engagement with any valve surface; 
 the solenoid being arranged to apply a magnetic force to an armature perimeter that is larger than the seat and concentric with the seat; 
 the inner perimeter being secured within a groove in the armature; 
 the outer perimeter being trapped in a groove in the valve body allowing the outer perimeter to move slightly as the inner perimeter moves axially; and 
 the spring being formed of a non-stretchable material that allows only axial translational movement of the armature between open and closed positions. 
 
   
   
     2. The valve of  claim 1  wherein the spring has slots extending radially outward from the inner perimeter part-way toward the outer perimeter. 
   
   
     3. The valve of  claim 1  wherein the spring has slots extending radially inward from the outer perimeter part-way toward the inner perimeter. 
   
   
     4. The valve of  claim 1  wherein the seal has a flat surface engaging the seat. 
   
   
     5. The valve of  claim 1  wherein the seal is compressed within a recess in the armature. 
   
   
     6. The valve of  claim 1  wherein the spring, armature, and seal are arranged to ensure that repeated engagements of the seal and the seat occur along a single line of contact on the seal. 
   
   
     7. A spring support arrangement for a solenoid armature carrying a valve-closing seal, the arrangement comprising:
 a spring extending radially between the armature and a body of the valve to support the armature and to hold the armature clear of other valve surfaces as the armature moves away from and toward a closed valve position; 
 the spring biasing the armature toward the closed valve position; 
 the spring restraining the armature from moving radially or rotationally while allowing the armature to move axially in translation so that the seal engages a seat of the valve repeatedly in a single line of contact; 
 the spring being flat and generally washer-shaped with a generally circular inner perimeter and a generally circular outer perimeter; 
 the spring being formed of a non-stretchable material allowing the spring to move from a flat to a non-flat configuration as the armature moves to an open valve position; 
 the inner perimeter of the spring being trapped in a groove in the armature; and 
 the outer perimeter of the spring being trapped in a groove in the valve body so that the outer perimeter can move slightly within the valve body groove as the spring moves between the flat and the non-flat configurations. 
 
   
   
     8. The spring support arrangement of  claim 7  wherein the spring has slots extending radially inward from the outer perimeter part-way toward the inner perimeter. 
   
   
     9. The spring support arrangement of  claim 8  wherein the spring has slots extending radially outward from the inner perimeter part-way toward the outer perimetea. 
   
   
     10. The spring support arrangement of  claim 7  wherein the spring and the armature are each radially larger than the seat and are each concentric with the seat. 
   
   
     11. A solenoid armature support and guidance system for a valve, the system comprising:
 a spring providing both support and guidance for the armature; 
 the spring holding the armature concentrically of a solenoid and biasing the armature toward a seat for the valve; 
 the spring allowing the armature to translate axially of the solenoid and the valve seat; 
 the spring restraining the armature from deviation from the axial translation; 
 the spring extending radially between the armature and to a body of the valve; 
 the spring holding the armature clear of engagement with any valve surface during axial movement of the armature; 
 magnetic flux generated by the solenoid acting on a periphery of the armature to cause the axial translation of the armature; 
 the armature carrying a seal that engages the valve seat to close the valve; 
 the spring being shaped as a flat annulus with generally circular inner and outer perimeters; 
 the inner perimeter of the spring being trapped in a groove in the armature and the outer perimeter of the spring being trapped in a groove in the valve body; and 
 the outer perimeter being free to move slightly within the valve body groove as the inner perimeter of the spring moves in the axial translation with the armature. 
 
   
   
     12. The system of  claim 11  wherein the spring has slots extending radially outward from the inner perimeter part-way toward the outer perimeter. 
   
   
     13. The system of  claim 11  wherein the seal has slots extending radially inward from the outer perimeter part-way toward the inner perimeter. 
   
   
     14. The system of  claim 11  wherein the spring ensures that a flat surface of the seal repeatedly engages the seat in a single line of engagement. 
   
   
     15. A solenoid valve comprising:
 an armature supported by a spring to move without contacting any valve surfaces as the armature travels from closed to open valve positions; 
 the spring biasing the armature toward the closed valve position, and a solenoid moving the armature to the open valve position; 
 the spring being concentric with the armature and arranged to hold the armature against radial or rotational movement while allowing the armature to move in translation axially of the solenoid; 
 the spring having a flat annular shape and being formed of a non-stretchable material 
 a generally circular inner perimeter of the spring being trapped in a groove in the armature; 
 a generally circular outer perimeter of the spring being trapped in a groove in the valve body allowing the outer perimeter to move slightly as the inner perimeter guides the armature in the axial translation. 
 
   
   
     16. The valve of  claim 15  wherein the spring has notches extending radially from one of the perimeters part-way toward another of the perimeters. 
   
   
     17. The valve of  claim 15  wherein the armature has a recess in which a valve closing seal is compressed. 
   
   
     18. The valve of  claim 15  wherein the armature carries a valve closing seal with a flat surface engaging a seat of the valve. 
   
   
     19. A system supporting and allowing movement of an armature of a solenoid valve, the system comprising:
 a generally circular and annular shaped spring extending radially from a body of the valve to the armature to hold the armature for movement between open and closed valve positions; 
 the spring biasing the armature toward the closed valve position; 
 a solenoid being actuatable to draw the armature to the open valve position; 
 the spring holding the armature clear of any valve surface during its movement between the closed and open valve positions; 
 the spring being arranged to allow only linear and axial translational movement of the armature; 
 the spring being arranged to prevent any radial or rotational movement of the armature; 
 an inner perimeter of the annular spring being trapped in a groove in the armature and an outer perimeter of the annular spring being trapped in a groove in the valve body so that the spring perimeters can move slightly within the respective grooves as the inner perimeter of the spring guides the armature in the linear and axial translational movement. 
 
   
   
     20. The valve of  claim 19  wherein the spring has slots extending radially inward from the outer perimeter part-way toward the inner perimeter. 
   
   
     21. The valve of  claim 19  wherein the spring has slots extending radially outward from the inner perimeter part-way toward the outer perimeter. 
   
   
     22. The valve of  claim 19  wherein the armature carries a valve closing seal having a flat surface engaging a seat of the valve. 
   
   
     23. A support for an armature of a solenoid valve, the support comprising:
 a generally plane and annular spring having an inner periphery trapped in a groove in the armature to support the armature for axial movement; 
 an outer periphery of the spring being trapped in a concentric groove in a body of the valve; 
 the spring biasing the armature toward a closed valve position; 
 the outer periphery of the spring being movable slightly within the body groove to allow the inner periphery of the spring to move axially with the armature while minimizing any radial movement of the armature; and 
 the spring being formed of a flexible and non-stretchable material. 
 
   
   
     24. The support of  claim 23  wherein the armature carries a valve closing seal having a flat surface engaging the valve seat. 
   
   
     25. The support of  claim 23  wherein the armature while moving toward and away from a closed valve position does not contact any valve surface other than the spring. 
   
   
     26. The support of  claim 23  wherein the outer periphery of the spring is secured between the valve body and a spacer ring fitted to the valve body. 
   
   
     27. The support of  claim 23  wherein the spring has peripheral and radially extending notches.